Lap Timers
 

I was looking to purchase a basic lap timer for now and maybe in a year or two invest in a higher end GPS lap timer such as a Traq Mate. Does anyone have any opinions on which ones work well or which ones I should stay away from. As of now I'm considering the following:

XT Racing Ultra-Lap
Longacre Hot Lap
Intercomp On-Board Lap Timer

Do you by chance have an iPhone?

http://greenchileproductions.com/RaceDataAX.html

Hmm when I went to the actual app store page people don't seem to like it that much. :/

No Iphone, I have a blackberry that work pays for, so its not really an option right now. I did notice that this Iphone application is designed for autocross and is not recommended for track events which is how I will be using it. Either way that's a pretty neat application. I didn't know that GPS was that accurate on cell phones to be able to track lap times.

Aim makes a lap timer also.

http://www.aimsports.com/store/produ...products_id=28

That being said, I used to use a Hot Lap Timer. I don't know how many times I almost forgot my transmitter beacon. I always found it was a hassle to bring it, the 12v battery that had to be charged (the double range one uses 12v) , and a tripod to mount it. I didn't always trust the lap times until I ran another time that was close to it. I have no experience with the others but I've heard good things about the Ultra-Lap.

I now run a G2X data logger. It does so much more and uses GPS. I am now a big fan of dataloggers. I think you'll be better off getting datalogger first than spending money on power upgrades in the beginning. You can get a G2X by itself without the dash display for $699 than when ready buy either the IQ3 dash or the G2X dash. If your set on Traqmate, you can also buy it basic and add the display later.

Some of the features I really like are predictive lap timing (you'll need the display), theoretical times, and video integration. Lap timers only give you one time. If you have to slow down for just one turn, you'll blow your lap time. Dataloggers can break down the lap into segments and piece your fast times together.

Think about pricing. I use the basic G2X dash. It has shift lights, lap timer built in, and two custom displays. I use mine for MPH and predictive lap time. Some people use it for RPMs, or a lat G meter, etc. You'll spend almost the same buying a seperate tach, shift lights, lap timer, and two guages.

-Jack

Yeah, I'm planning on getting a traqmate when the budget allows.

Vehicle maintenance has really eaten up my budget for this year. I would hate to go another season without some sort of lap timer, but I really dont want to spend $600 for a starter GPS system when I can possibly pickup a used lap timer for around $150 or a new one for $240. I agree that a GPS data logger is the way to go but its something I just can't do right now.

If you are doing track days or HPDE type stuff or kart racing, a lap timer is an excellent tool that provides immediate info on the lap you just completed and any improvements. Some of them also display best time run that session and some do section times. Great tools.

I used a MyChron when I raced karts and they also should work for street cars. I sometimes did forget my beacon at the track but it wasn't that much of a pita for me.

Check ebay for some deals on used lap timers.

I haven't needed to setup the beacon for my Longacre hot lap timer at most of the events I've attended because somebody else usually has one trackside already. A lot of people use this timer and it's plenty accurate. But ultimately I'd like to get a Traqmate, though I don't know if it's really worth the investment for me at this time.

I find more often then not that HPDE events strictly forbid lap timing, so your can't put your Hot Lap beacon out. It's really lame, as it's a great tool, but I'm sure it's an insurance thing.

That would be an advantage of a GPS based system, as they typically don't check your car so without need for a beacon, you could just time anyway.

I've never been to one where they outright banned the lap timers, but they do heavily discourage them at DEs I've been to, at least in the lower run groups. I don't think I've ever heard them discouraged in HPDE 3, but not actively encouraged either.

For beginning drivers it makes sense, you get too hot trying to set a good lap and then have an incident.

I think it depends on the track and the group. I've seen them disallow beacons to be setup at a few tracks in the Midwest for DE's. They never check the cars using GPS lap timers, only the setup of beacons.

Yes, I've been to a few where the club explicitly forbid timing devices, and they claim it's for insurance reasons as it's supposed to be a "driving school", and any sort of competition is not allowed by the policy. At a couple of these events, I've just walked over to the workers in the pit and asked them if I could put something on the pit wall, and they said "yeah, okay, but I don't want to know what that thing is". :)

I use the G2X as well and absolutely love it although ive heard that the software end of it is not as easy to use as the traqmate. The dash unit itself as far as Im concerned is much better. I use the shift lights quite a bit, and basically just use the unit as my dash.

Did you get the new video update? Excuse the driving.... still learning! Here is a sample:


http://www.vimeo.com/4776818

-Jack

check out longacre.com , ive been more then happy with their lap timer.

I assume you mean http://www.longacreracing.com/index.asp

;)